The clubby world of Los Angeles' commercial real estate brokers has been hit by a wave of high-level employee defections and at least one lawsuit as an industrywide shakeout promises even more changes. Much of the recent upheaval has been triggered by the arrival of New York-based real estate brokerage giant Insignia/ESG. It wasted little time hiring away top rival brokers with signing bonuses--unheard of in local real estate circles--that in some cases exceeded $1 million.

Insignia/ESG has opened a South Bay office with the hiring of Cushman & Wakefield brokers James Jandro, Brian Polkinghorne and Michael Harry. Insignia has established the office and hired the brokers, all specialists in the South Bay region, because "we perceive a significant, ongoing trend of major Westside commercial tenants migrating southward into South Bay properties," said Robert K. Shibuya, executive managing director of Insignia/ESG's western region.

Insignia/ESG has opened a South Bay office with the hiring of Cushman & Wakefield brokers James Jandro, Brian Polkinghorne and Michael Harry. Insignia has established the office and hired the brokers, all specialists in the South Bay region, because "we perceive a significant, ongoing trend of major Westside commercial tenants migrating southward into South Bay properties," said Robert K. Shibuya, executive managing director of Insignia/ESG's western region.

* Veteran investment broker David B. Doupe has joined the Los Angeles office of real estate services firm Insignia/ESG to head its regional real estate sales and financing operations. Doupe, 44, will serve as the Western executive managing director for the firm's Capital Advisors group and will focus on building sales teams in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Doupe had been president of the North American operations of the real estate investment banking company Greenwich Group International.

* Veteran investment broker David B. Doupe has joined the Los Angeles office of real estate services firm Insignia/ESG to head its regional real estate sales and financing operations. Doupe, 44, will serve as the Western executive managing director for the firm's Capital Advisors group and will focus on building sales teams in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Doupe had been president of the North American operations of the real estate investment banking company Greenwich Group International.

Insignia/ESG, an Irvine-based commercial real estate company that promotes community volunteer work, recently raised more than $27,000 for Goodwill Industries at Knott's Berry Farm. The company's west division surprised itself by exceeding a $17,000 goal when more than 150 of its employees and their families and friends finished first among 36 companies in Knott's Walk 'N' Roll event. Overall, the event raised about $60,500.

The clubby world of Los Angeles' commercial real estate brokers has been hit by a wave of high-level employee defections and at least one lawsuit as an industrywide shakeout promises even more changes. Much of the recent upheaval has been triggered by the arrival of New York-based real estate brokerage giant Insignia/ESG. It wasted little time hiring away top rival brokers with signing bonuses--unheard of in local real estate circles--that in some cases exceeded $1 million.

Insignia/ESG, an Irvine-based commercial real estate company that promotes community volunteer work, recently raised more than $27,000 for Goodwill Industries at Knott's Berry Farm. The company's west division surprised itself by exceeding a $17,000 goal when more than 150 of its employees and their families and friends finished first among 36 companies in Knott's Walk 'N' Roll event. Overall, the event raised about $60,500.